(big yawn)

bored...bored...bored.... bored in the “bored” room. bored into submission. bored beyond recognition. ready for our adventures to begin already, but trying to take things one day at a time. is this a test? is this only a test? maybe the easy listening music i hear at work every day has finally penetrated my brain and caused irreversible damage. after all, i believe celine dion has unimaginable powers to enhance boredom as no one else can. it’s scary, i know. but here’s my theory: celine dion is using her “music” to gain world domination and turn all listeners into drones. still skeptical?? case in point: remember that song from titanic? ‘nuf said.

adult life

what do i want to be when i grow up? wow - that's a toughie. way back in college, i took a few art classes. i was an english major at the time and decided it would be cool to write and design my own greeting cards. so i latched onto art as a minor. after taking a few graphic design classes, i flipped my major/minor and was on my way. i had a great design professor - thanks, uta - who made me fall in love with organizing information on a page in such a way that the message was communicated in the best possible manner. i felt alive. i was invincible. i was 20.

fast forward to today. i've been working at a large non-profit for almost 5 years. my longest gig before this was 2 years - seems that was my tolerance timetable. i did catalog work right out of college then it was a move "home" for some temp work before landing a spot with an ad agency. 2 years later, i moved on to a university and, 2 years after that, a corporation. i've dipped my toe in a lot of different pools and have been lucky enough to enjoy most of my working days.

i get bored very easily. hence, the 2 year time limit. at this job, however, i had a different plan. when i reached the 2 year line, i was on another mission. minnesota and i decided to pay off all of our debts and begin saving to move to another city. so i had to stick around way past what i would've liked. now, we can look to the future with no strings holding us anywhere. no creditors. no payment books. no looming bills. it's amazing and fabulous and more incredible than i ever imagined it would be.

so back to the boredom. i'm questioning my career. i'm wondering if this is my passion - what i'm meant to do. i enjoy design and i believe it changes the world minute by minute. i like being part of that change. i like finding ways to make things "fit". i adore when a "client" tells me i've nailed the visual for the message they're wanting to communicate. it's exhilarating. and the process is invigorating. it's like putting a puzzle together - only i have to figure out what the pieces look like as well as what the overall finished picture will be.

is it just this place that's stifling me? is it just the constant drudgery pressing me further and further into this horrible carpet which hasn't seen a vacuum cleaner in months - possibly years? is it the sticky tentacles of an incredibly incompetent and inappropriate ceo wrapping around my soul trying to suck me under? i won't have it. i won't be drug down. certainly not by a mudhen.

i have visions of beautiful places where design is revered for all it can do. where the culture appreciates what everyone has to say - not just the cronies and yes men. where i'll find my voice and rise up above this funk. i know this beauty exists and i know i can bring it into my life. watch out portland, we're coming for you.

poundin the "pavement"

why is looking for a job such a crazy game? it would make more sense if people were just up front in the job ad so you knew exactly what you were getting into.

we need a designer who can create great printed pieces in not a lot of time, who can juggle way too many jobs than anyone should be asked to juggle, who won't get upset and run away crying if her design isn't chosen, who likes to laugh and looks forward to coming to work every day. we may also need you to do some web design even though it may not be your specialty. it would be great if you were a fast learner. we'll pay a fair market salary and provide any benefits were able to provide. so write to us and let us know what you're looking for.

instead, you see secretly coded ads asking for salary requirements which you know is just a ploy to get you to walk into their trap of "oh, she's looking for way too much money - toss this resume in the garbage. next..." when the salary question is out there, it's anyone's game. once you jump off that bridge, you either hit water or cement. here's to enjoying the jump.

i'm looking for employment in portland even though we're still in indy. i've gotten one reply asking to see more samples and possibly schedule an interview. sadly, the salary was way below market value for someone with my experience - 12 years. otherwise, i've gotten "your experience is impressive, but you're not what we're looking for. thank you". i can't help but think one deterent is me being 2500 miles away from said job. alas, i have faith and know the right job will come along at exactly the right time.

i've come across some very clever ads - people who know it's a good thing to allow personality to show through. it helps me believe they truly enjoy working there. which, in turn, gives me hope for all of humanity. after all, it's much better to love what you do for the majority of your days here on earth rather than trudging along counting the days til friday.

it seems so simple - do something you love doing and the money will "follow". i wonder how the rent gets paid in the time when the money is catching up to the doing what you love part. and how exactly do you figure out what you love to do if you've only ever been doing something in order to pay the bills? what am i good at? what do i love doing? i'm good at getting a tan and i love laying on the beach. think the money will follow me there? in the meantime, i'd better get back to looking for work.

muchas gracias

thanks to the person who read one of our posts and congratulated us on being happy. you're right - the world needs more happy people!

ah the humor

we are one step closer to making this adventure a reality - saturday, we got new cell phones with the 503 portland area code. both of us realized just how old and archaic our former cell phones were once we were shown the new (and "free") model phones. technology is an amazing and bewildering tool, which can be used for good and evil. we will only use our new phones for good, unless conditions warrant otherwise.

speaking of cell phones, we happened upon a phone in a puddle in the alley behind our indianapolis apartment the other day. being good samaritans, we returned the phone to the sprint store in hopes they could track down the owner - who turned out to be none other than "stompy ho-bag" from our apartment building. later, we heard from the sprint store employees that she was none too pleasant with them after she arrived to pick up her water-logged phone (which, incredibly enough, still worked post-puddle). doesn't make much karmic sense to be so mean to people after they've returned your once-lost phone, now does it???

but alas, 'tis not for us to judge.

our adventurous spirits have led us to the laundromat today. neither of us enjoy doing laundry, especially when one must fold their skivvies in front of total strangers. the only good thing about laundromats are those carts on wheels. oh, and those tiny little boxes of tide. those are pretty cute. but not cute enough for us to continue using these fine establishments once we move. our future downtown apartment in portland will contain a washer/dryer combo. that's a requirement. unless we win a lifetime supply of tiny boxes of tide during "best friends" week on wheel of fortune, that is. we're pretty good at puzzle solving. but i digress.

so, in summation, technology is amazing when used for good, not evil. be kind to all humans (including cell phone company employees). fold your skivvies in private. little boxes of tide are cute. and we rock at the wheel.

peace out.

Minnesota's 100 Things

1. i'm in love and it's absolutely amazing.
2. i'm 32 years old, although i still feel 23. maybe
i'm just dyslexic.
3. my life has taken some amazing twists and turns,
all to get me to this very moment.
4. i believe in karma.
5. i'm sickeningly happy.
6. i believe simple is better.
7. silly little things make me giggle.
8. my girlfriend is my missing puzzle piece.
9. i like to see the good in everyone and everything.
10. spring is my favorite season, mostly because i
emerge from hibernation mode.
11. i believe laughter is contagious.
12. i'm an artist who suffers from low
self-confidence.
13. i wish upon falling stars and fallen eyelashes.
14. i'm not much of a dog person (although they’re sweet in their own way), but i've fallen head over heels for the most adorable kitty cat in the whole wide world: ours.
15. life is an adventure.
16. it's worth taking risks.
17. i’m a chocolate snob. i want good chocolate or no chocolate.
18. i will run a marathon someday.
19. technology is baffling to me.
20. i’m open-minded.
21. i’m a terrible liar.
22. sometimes it’s hard to list 100 things – regardless of what you’re listing.
23. my teeth sparkle ever-so-brightly.
24. i’ve got no rhythm, but i appreciate people who do.
25. when i let my imagination run wild, watch out!
26. i need eight hours of sleep every night.
27. clutter-free is good to me.
28. expressing gratitude is not a sign of weakness.
29. i love sunflowers.
30. people fascinate me.
31. unless they’re driving.
32. then they frustrate me.
33. although i try to be patient.
34. really, i do.
35. i’m a very private person.
36. so on that note, i think i’ll leave the next 64 items alone. maybe i’ll get to them later...or maybe not.

Lucky's 100 Things

1. i fell in love for the first time in 2002 - i was 31.
2. she's my soulmate.
3. we have a 7 lb., 13 year old kitty.
4. i crave adventure.
5. even though it scares me sometimes.
6. i don't like tomatoes.
7. but i do like ketchup, salsa and spaghetti sauce.
8. i was born and raised just north of atlanta, ga.
9. i love the south - but i hate the bigotry.
10. i want to live the life jimmy buffet sings about.
11. until that happens, i'm a graphic designer.
12. i think world peace is attainable.
13. i've travelled more in the past 3 years than i have in my life.
14. places i've gone - myrtle beach, sc; southern indiana; columbus, oh; atlanta (a few times); chicago, il; madison, wi; portland, or; seattle, wa; new orleans, la and gulfport, ms; memphis, tn; st. louis, mo; hershey, pa and new york city (for thanksgiving).
15. all but one of those was a driving trip.
16. my favorite movies are romantic comedies.
17. i worship the sun any chance i get.
18. i enjoy watching almost any sport.
19. i have owned my dream car - jeep wrangler.
20. i love my dog very much, even though she doesn't live with me, and i miss her every day.
21. i'm a graduate of the university of alabama - roll tide!
22. i believe in reincarnation.
23. dance music makes me smile.
24. despite working on a computer for 11+ years, i still have to look at the keys sometimes.
25. summer is my favorite season.
26. i'm very picky about writing utensils.
27. i wish i would've discovered the joys of daily workouts when i was much younger.
28. i prefer coke to pepsi.
29. but water is my beverage of choice.
30. i think "america's funniest videos" rocks.
31. i recycle.
32. good design is critical.
33. i didn't experience a death of a loved one until i was in college.
34. finding true love makes life spectacular.
35. every pair of pants i buy require alteration.
36. i've seen the macy's thanksgiving day parade in person.
37. i will learn to surf.
38. i prefer big cities.
39. i believe celebrites' and male athletes' salaries are disgraceful.
40. i am fairly impatient.
41. but i'm working on that.
42. i am very close with my mom.
43. she's an amazing woman.
44. someday i'll go bungee jumping.
45. i enjoy grocery shopping.
46. but don't really like shopping for clothes.
47. i'm not a coffee drinker, but i love the smell of it.
48. getting a haircut is theraputic.
49. farming as a career fascinates me.
50. my favorite song of all time is "safety dance" by men without hats.
51. running recently became my exercise of choice.
52. when i played basketball in high school, i didn't like to run.
53. galaga is the best video game ever created.
54. someone once said i couldn't carry a tune in a bucket.
55. i've been leery of singing aloud ever since.
56. i read slowly.
57. a song can instantly take me to another place in time.
58. t-shirts are staples of my wardrobe - even old, ratty ones.
59. this baffles my girlie.
60. a front porch is a glorious thing.
61. thunderstorms invigorate me.
62. one of my great grandmothers was full-blooded Cherokee.
63. another one lived to be 95.
64. i have many nicknames and i like them all.
65. lucky, southern belle, babygirl, prissy, puddin, lulu, loulie.
66. i think ellen degeneres and robin williams are the funniest comedians.
67. my parents are divorced.
68. coming up with new "inventions" is a favorite activity of mine.
69. when i was a kid, i wanted to be a dallas cowboys' cheerleader.
70. that dream lasted about a week.
71. i was a major tomboy.
72. i want to hike the appalachian trail.
73. cold weather is one of my least favorite things.
74. "the amazing race" and "cbs sunday morning" are the only tv shows i must watch.
75. i have 2 tattoos.
76. i can watch the weather channel and cnn for hours.
77. my first concert was journey.
78. i love wearing flip flops.
79. i even have flip flop socks to wear in colder weather.
80. my girlie doesn't like the fashion statement.
81. she loves me anyway.
82. high fructose corn syrup is a cruel invention.
83. i competed in "bop to the top" - a race up 37 flights of stairs.
84. factory tours should be a part of every vacation.
85. the term "y'all" is an integral part of my vocabulary.
86. unfortunately, so is "ya know".
87. classic movies are something i haven't indulged in as much as i'd like to.
88. although i did see "casablanca" and loved it.
89. i don't wear a lot of jewelry, but i enjoy shopping for it.
90. i feel at home in the water - especially the ocean.
91. photography is a hobby i'd like to make more time for.
92. my grandmother makes the best chocolate cake in the world.
93. my other grandmother makes the best chicken and dumplins.
94. my mom makes the best lasagna.
95. i prefer reading magazines rather than books.
96. i look much younger than i really am.
97. i like looking young because i still feel like i'm in my 20s.
98. my ideal outside temperature is 80.
99. i love my family and friends without judgement.
100. i believe in karma.

and so it begins

we're moving to portland, oregon from indianapolis, indiana at the end of june. we've waited two years for this. when we visited the pac nw last summer, we decided it's where we belong at this time in our lives.

we're packing the honda with our few possessions - we're firm believers in less is more - and our adorable kitty, and we're hitting the road.

so this is the story of our move - the packing, the moving, the adventuring and whatever else comes to mind. so enjoy our journey without the hassles of slow drivers in the fast lane and frequent pit stops.